Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-07
KANSAS RAILROADS.

If there is any one thing in connection
with railroad Investigations, more than an
other worthy of note, it is the misleading
evidence put before congress and the coun-
try. In his testimony before the Pacific
railway investigating commission the tele
graph reports Geo. w. Click as saying:
"That until the appointment OF the state
railroad commission in Kansas in 1888 there
had been much complaint throughout the
state against all railroad companies includ
ing the Pacific roads, for discrimination
against individuals and classes of shippers,
but since that time the complaints have be-
come somewhat less frequent and less Sc
rious, owing to the fact that the commits.
sion exercised its authority to reduce
rates." People who are acquainted with
Mr., Click will be likely to credit him with
honesty, and will belive he made what he
considered an honest statement. But people
who are interested in large shipments of
freights over Kansas and other roads will
smile when they hear it stated that the
Kansas law has prevented discrimination
against individuals and classes of shippers.
Everyone interested in the shipments
of stock. grain lumber and all freights in
which the people are more largely interes-
ted know that so far as the Kansas law is
concerned it might as well never have been
enacted if its object was to benefit the pub
lie The fact that there is less complaint
in Kansas against railroads does not come
of any benefit to the people by the appoint
ment of a commission as Mr.. Click sup
poses, but it is owing to the prevailing
opinion in Kansas that no good can come
from railroad legislation. The people of
Kansas by very large majority are in
favor of allowing competition to regulate
railroads; and believing in this theory they
are doing all in their power to aid in the
construction of competing lines. We
suppose, however, it will be published
for the benefit of the people
and their law makers that
the people of Kansas have been greatly
benefited by a railroad commission. In re-
gard to large debt due the government
from the Union Pacific road Mr.. Click
goes on record as saying that che thought
the country had received sufficient benefit
from these Pacific roads, by reason of their
developments of the region through which
they passed, to warrant the cancellation of
the debt" If the government owns an in
terest in the Union Pacific, the peoples
money having been used to aid in its con-
struction, and the road has aided In the
development of the country, it is well,
We, however, fail to see wherein
this furnishes any reason for the gov'
eminent donating its claim against
the road to some individuals who happen
to own the stock. The government of the
United States has no more right to donate
money to individuals owning stock in the
Union Pacific railroad, than 1t has to do
nate money to parties who are erecting
stock yards in Wichita. There is very lit
tie evidence ever presented to congressional
committees other than from railroad
point. If these committees could get an
from the great mass of the peo-
pie, it would not be favorable to the regu-
lation of railroads by commissions, nor to
giving the peoples money to railroad
Owners